A Snake in the Gryphon's Den: A Riddle in Gryffindor {Completed}

The Meeting

"Woooohooo!!" Everyone cheered at the duo who now stood at the center of the dance floor.

I just kept my eyes locked on Viktor, whose face was just as flushed as mine. We both began to laugh as everyone clapped and cheered.

"That's ma' main man right there!" Tom's voice was one of the loudest.

"Woohoo!!!" Fleur laughed as she clapped, her younger sister laughing and beaming. Their plan was a success!

"Shall we celebrate?" Tom laughed as he turned to Fleur. When she nodded he also invited a few others who were involved, including Gabby to sit together at a table.

~*~
The gardens were coated in white frosting, their wintery sweetness hanging on the still air. Dressed in cloaks, we both walked, laughing as Viktor and I exchanged stories.

"Tom has been wanting me to see someone new since that day," he laughed lightly as I took a seat on the fountain's rim. The statues shone with a silver grey stone, that made them seem almost animated.

"Oh.. Hehe," I chuckled as I tilted my head back a bit to view the sky, a bright moon glowing over head , " So your a Seeker," I chuckled turning to view him. " I heard a lot about you from the other girls, they said you're a famous Quidditch Player," I drew a mock-tease of disbelief, " but I didn't believe them.

"Oh why not..?" Viktor laughed, " Am I too princely for Quidditch?" He smiled broadly.

"Oh don't get a big head," laughed. "Being a Seeker isn't that hard." I chuckled.

"You seem quite confident," he leaned on one leg as he folded his arms," Care for a little dance in the sky then?" I frowned lightly before getting his drift. " Or are you afraid to ruin that dress of yours..?" He challenged.

"Oh so you really wana go there Drumstrang?" I laughed as I took off my cloak, " Bring it on!" I stepped into his guard as he presented a Snitch who began hovering in front of us. Grinning, conjured up two brooms and held them beside me. Viktor then released it into the sky for a few seconds head start before we both took off. His skill surpassed mine hands down that was for sure, and by the time I had caught up to him he had already gotten the Snitch.

"Surely you can do much better!" He teased as he set it free. He had ended up catching the snitch the second round too. " Still think being a Seeker is not that hard?" He playfully mocked.

" Oh shut up," I laughed as I dove down to leave my heels by the fountain and rose back into the sky as the third round began. Worrying about ruining his gift did linger at the back of my mind, but I too knew that I was much better than this. Raising up the rim of my gown so that the edge of the skirt sat comfortably at my knee lowered my pose and sped ahead. I soon caught up to him and extended my hand. { Almost there..} I mentally egged on before it quickly dodged a hard left and dropped into a free fall. Viktor nearly bumped into me at that moment, but I made sure to have dropped before hand. Side by side we dove vertically, our world but a blur. In mock-play I drew a corkscrew form as I dove making a round circle around him.

Laughing the boy played into my stunt and we both ended up diving in a spin around each other, drawing a light braid in the falling snow. Pulling up, I slowed down a bit just to step onto the broom barefoot. Reaching out to the Snitch narrowed my eyes in determination. "Gotcha!!" I grabbed it at the same time he did, and our brooms dipped into the snow and we ended up falling into a small snow drift.

"AHAHAHA!" Viktor laughed. He had landed on his back, acting as a pillow for me to land on. "Are you all right..?" He asked as I raised my head from his torso, laughing hysterically- the snow sticking comically on my hair.

His fingers removed the snow and hair from my face as I looked up at him, " I'm fine.. Are you?" I pulled back sitting on my knees as I brushed the snow off my arm. He laughed and sat up, " Never been better!" As we looked each other in the eyes, an awkward pause fell and we both chuckled shyly. He helped me to my feet shortly after and all at once I felt my toes grow comically numb as I stood in raw snow.
Viktor felt awkward standing there beside a girl, who was now barefoot in cold snow. He didn't have the confidence to just pick her up, they weren't a couple or anything to have that random freedom after all- it would be highly inappropriate. Curious eyes watched as Elizabeth casually walked on ice and felt an awkward pang hit his gut. He was raised better than this, and gritting his teeth caught up to the girl who was happily humming.
"Something good happen?" He smiled and teased as I looked at him with a goofy grin.

"Of course!" I laughed, but before I could say anything else I was swept off my feet-literally. "K-Krum..?" I stuttered. He blushed and explained that there was something sharp in the snow that I was about to step on.
"Smooth, very smooth," I teased.

Silence soon followed, and I felt his tense muscles under my arm and felt bad. Relaxing my weight to show I was comfortable, also felt that his tension had lifted as well. The brooms had crashed into an oak and had splintered so we had to walk the length- or rather he had to walk the length. "Wanna know what the good thing was..?" I broke the silence.

Caught off guard, adjusted his arm and tossed me a bit so that he could readjust his hold, " Yes," he said in a semi-formal way. I chuckled and just rested my arm over his shoulder, so that my hand rested on his other joint. " I got this!!" I presented the snitch with my free hand and beamed. His eyes seemed a little disappointed as I spoke, " And I beat world champion Viktor Krum in Snitch!" I said goofily. He laughed but I still could feel his heaviness. We finally reached the fountain and sat atop it's rim. His smile wasn't as full as moments earlier. Biting my lower lip didn't know what else to say and just collected my hands on my lap. Taking a big breath rested my head on his shoulder. I felt him flinch in surprise, but then slowly wrap his arm around my back and rest at my side. "There was one more thing.." I said quietly, I could feel his arm grow tense behind me, though I didn't know if it was a good thing or not. "Viktor-"

"Elizabeth," he interrupted my trail of words, " I have a confession to make." I looked up at him, then down onto my hand as he gently took it and gave it a light squeeze. "I-" I interrupted him.

"It's okay.. I know.. No need to explain.." I said quietly, my hand light on my lap. " Your friends put you up to it, but it's not what you really wanted. I know." Smiling kindly scooted comically over to my shoes and slipped them on and drew my cape over my shoulders. I felt a little relieved at this closing and sighed relaxing. {Can't wait to get into the hot bubbles!} I cheerfully imagined the girls' bubbling bath. But before I could take another step, my world became a blur- for I wasn't prepared nor expecting what happened next.

Viktor stood up and quickly grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her to him, and gave her a present she wouldn't be able to forget, her first kiss. He first assumed that she would curse and push him away, but she didn't, to his surprise she just stood there standing in his guard- snow falling around them. Here under the sky born frosting, he felt like he was accepted- not as the famous Seeker- but as himself.. Just Viktor. And as they pulled away, he could feel his face blush, and laughed quietly. The girl in front of him was as rosy faced as ever, but it was very cute. After a light pause they both laughed, and hugged; still laughing as they held each other's hands.

A meeting that neither would be able to forget.